Amel of La Rochelle

Chantiers AMEL as this is called in French (in French is a plural), is a sailing yacht manufacturer company which started business in 1968, in La Rochelle, France. They have two yacht models to showcase, and the yard, or team, or no matter other description is as bombastic as a French can conceive it. So, a lot of words before hand. Now, because I’m making this review step by step, I describe the first feeling of the website and the product. I’m not personally influenced by the feedback, but I may say that I know this particular brand, :). They have some roots in Turkey, and I know a certain number of the guys you are directed to, from the official site.

Amel 55

Very impressed seeing that all the managers there, have an assistant, but I haven’t found any designer in “the team”, maybe for copyright infringement reasons, maybe just for precaution. If you read what they say about themselves or their two boats they are building, they are just fantastic.

Amel Offices (from their site)

Now, let have a look at the boats!

Bombastic or fantastic, it seems that Amel is a brave company. They are building two models, but both are of the very best quality, at a first look.

The same Amel 55, lateral view

At a LOA of 17.30 meters, a 4.99 meters beam and a draft of 2.20 meters, hull made from composite, Roving 71 glass fiber / isophthalic resin, monolithic laminate, laid up by hand (application / coating / air removal) in lengthwise and transverse layers, the Amel 55 rivals any Beneteau.

The large front cabin of the standard 55

They have two layout designs for the 55, the one with two aft double bed cabins + one small starboard + the double great as above, and a version with one large aft cabin, instead of the two double bed.

Amel 55 interior 1

Amel 55 interior 2

The layout with one aft double cabin

I have to say that I’m more than impressed. Spacious watertight engine room, with efficient sound insulation, even if they don’t show the engine room or engine pics on the site. I haven’t looked for them on other boating sites. The engine and all the heavy equipment (generator set) are centered and positioned very low. High density insulating foam and inside coating with high acoustic performance. The access from the cockpit, full opening of the cockpit bottom, to a Steyr 4-cylinder, 140HP, low speed diesel engine with a hydraulic gearbox with shaft brake, and mechanical engine controls. Fixed 3-blade propeller (folding propeller available as an option), a Diesel fuel capacity of 900 litres. Onan 3-cylinder generator, 1500 rpm, 7.5 kW, retractable electric bow thruster, fresh water pump, hot water tank (40 liters). Can you guess how much this marvels cost? I found price ranges between $900,000 to $1,100,000 and I wasn’t so happy anymore. This is throwing Amel to the high luxury class. I say that the branding is hyper exaggerated, but this is just an opinion. With all the elegance (pictures are very fine), it’s too expensive. With half of this price, one buys a Motor Yacht able to transport you from Pas du Calais to New York in two and a half, three days, in high luxury as well. I saw a plane which was for sale for less than $70,000. Maybe I have a fix with crossing the Atlantic in the lesser time, but speed goes with luxury, and easy leisure crossing depending on the currents and winds, goes with economy.

A future economy applying to boat fuel consumption isn’t justified. As good as a boat is maintained, it’s expensive enough to keep it, and the life span is limited.

I’m going to show some more pics of the second Amel type I found on their site, the Amel 64.

Amel 64

At a 19.60 meters LOA, 5.60 meters beam and 2.40 meters draft, the Amel 64 offers the three large cabins layout.

luxurious shower

This model was launched on the market in 2010. I found some older models for sale on yachtworld.com, but the characteristics aren’t very different. Of course the price may differ accordingly, but the sale of such an expensive boat, implies always a tough negotiation.

interior command

galley of a 64

double bed

space on a 64

Sea, sun and Amel 64

The always present sunny picture, with the land on display. This one seems to have been taken in Turkey, where the company shows no less than three sales representatives and a few more contact points, :).

inside of the Amel 64

I don’t know how much could the price be, but anyway, it is a yacht for people who can afford it. I’m anxiously waiting to present all the motor yachts types, but there is time for everything. All the opinions expressed on this blog are more or less personal, with various inspiration from the manufacturers pages, or from the presented models owners. There was a try on the past, to have again, the yachts presented, there are some past posts inherited from my Blogspot blog, and I think I’m going to delete them when this presentations will cover more than a half of the yacht brands.

Company's logo

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Comments

Perhaps the newer Amel Yachts are out of reach of many normal people considering a cruising lifestyle. Which i think is a bit of a turn from its roots when Amel was alive to make it a sailboat for couples to be able to cruise the world easily and comfortably. I can say that older boats such as the 53 Super Maramu of which I am deeply considering as one described my mid 40s lifestyle change being retired from the military. Which is a very capable and comfortable sailing boat that a couple can sail in almost any condition as well as being able to maintain with a little skill and creativity. Without being a boat that is for the super rich, rich, or white collars only. Yet one that is available to most white collars as well as some blue collar workers without breaking the bank in maintenance. The average used boat ranges from $200k – $300k a very affordable, easy sailing boat. Sure there are faster, lighter boats out there. Few that i have seen that have the capacity and capability to be able to travel the world without having a trust to support such a lifestyle. A true quality and high end boat that though not available to the masses. Is within reach of many. A stark contrast of where the companies direction is now heading and a sad future for the cult followers of the brand. Who knows what the future will hold.

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Daniel Mihai Popescu is a ship engineer with background in yacht brokerage, Real Estate, construction, entrepreneurship. Avid reader, traveled the world, explorer of the human nature. Never stopped learning. He can be your next webmaster! [Read More...]

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